Within tribal culture the emphasis and loyalty is to the tribe/family. The concept of "country" is not on the main burner. Without this concept of country, then democracy is very hard to push, as it means the trible getting something by giving up something to another tribe in exchange.
While we joke about "My country Right or Wrong", in a tribal society they are serious about "My tribe/family, right or wrong." They will protect to the fullest someone or thing if it belongs to the tribe. They will not allow "outsiders to interfer" and they sure as hell will not turn in or turn over that, that belongs to the tribe.
These ideas and beliefs run counter to democracy as deversity requires compromise and trust of "outsiders" for justice. Can the middle east accomplish this, yes. Will it take time, yes. As was already mentioned, Latin America is very much family oriented and village, family by extension, oriented. One of the problems in the 70s and 80s was their concept of country was their fields and pastures. The city was foriegn and was not to be trusted, that is where the corrupt ones lived. It took, as has been mentioned before in this thread, education.
Islam is where Catholisim was 500 to 700 years ago. Remember back then they thought in terms of villages and family. They held several Inquisitions to route out "non believers" and to punish them.
It took a bold experiment in a new land to begin the genisis of democracy and we still screw it up. We had scandals, and various perversions of democracy over the years to include a civil war. Arguements over what the orginal documents mean and all sorts of buffonary. My guess is that in another several hundred years we may get it right. To expect a country that is just now feeling the effects of freedom to get it right this soon is plain and simple jackassery.
Of course that descibes the librals and their press agents quite nicely thank you.
